Kenora Great War Project

 

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The People

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These are the stories of Kenora participants in the First World War.

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Seth, Walter

Walter and William Seth enlisted together in Kenora, Ontario on 28 September 1916. They said they were born in Cutler, Ontario, a community on the North Channel of Lake Huron. For next of kin they named Mr. Iram Sawba of Cutler, although he was not a relative. Walter gave his birth date as 22 March… Read More »

Lavoie, Wilfred

Private Wilfred Lavoie joined the 52nd Battalion in 1915 and served overseas for four years. He returned to Canada in September 1919 with a war bride. Wilfred was the son of Wilfred Lavoie Sr. and Mary Ann McKeon of Kenora, Ontario. Mary Ann’s family emigrated from Scotland when she was a child and by 1881… Read More »

Benson, Robert John

Robert John (Bobby) Benson was born on 18 May 1894 in Davidson, Saskatchewan. His parents Hans Benedikt Johannesson and Rosa Gudmundsdottir were from Iceland, marrying on 22 July 1876 in Grenadarstadur, Sudur-Thingeyjarsysea. The couple gave birth to two children in Iceland, Egill (George) in 1875 and Vestium (Weston) in 1879. At some point after Weston’s… Read More »

Hansen, Henry John

According to his attestation papers, Henry John Hansen was born on 01 May 1892 in Keewatin, Ontario. (His baptism, obituary, and grave marker supports the date of birth as 01 May 1893). His parents were Johan (John) Haakon Hansen and Ida Malis Olson. Siblings included: Karine Hulda (b. 1895), Myrtle (b. 1896), Arthur (b. 1898)… Read More »

Wolfe, Esfeld

Driver Esfeld Wolfe enlisted at age 17 and served with the Canadian Field Artillery for almost two years. He enlisted again in the Second World War and served for three years before becoming ill. He passed away in November 1943. Esfeld was born on 12 October 1899 in Iceland, the youngest son of Ulfar Gunnlaugsson… Read More »

Schnarr, C. Nelson

C. Nelson Schnarr, son of Werner Schnarr and Catherine Zinkann was born October 21, 1868 in Tavistock, Ontario. He was the first dentist in the Rat Portage (Kenora). His office was located on Main St. North over Carmichael’s store. He married Eva Helen Margach September 28, 1896 at Rat Portage. She died within a year… Read More »

Harris, Ralph Roland

Ralph Roland McClude was born on 24 December 1896 in Withy Mills, Paulton, District of Clutton, Somerset, England. Listed on his baptism record are his parents Roland Ralph McClude, boot and shoe operator, and mother Lydia (née Collier). The couple had married during the 3rd quarter of 1893 in the registration district of Clutton in… Read More »

Esselmont, John Wesley

Private John Wesley Esselmont enlisted in Vancouver in September 1915, at age 20. He was wounded at the Battle of Passchendaele in November 1917 and spent the remainder of the war in Great Britain. John was born on 30 May 1895 in Fort William, Ontario. His father, James Esselmont, had immigrated to Canada from the… Read More »

Oberg, Louis Anselius Martinus

According to his attestation papers, Louis Anselius Martinus Oberg was born on 8 February 1876 in Randers, Denmark. Prior to immigrating to Canada around 1909 he had been living in Sweden where, according to his WW1 service record, he had served with the Västernanland Regiment from 1892 to 1898. At some point he had married… Read More »

Wright, Jack George

Private Jack George Wright enlisted in Edmonton, Alberta in May 1918, at age 27. Records indicate that he was using an alias and he was actually Patrick Stafford Savage. Patrick Stafford, usually known as Stafford, was the son Patrick Richard Savage and Mary Adeline Casey of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Patrick and Mary were born in New… Read More »